This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 142/4/1710    most recent pp.106.088898v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Web of Science (14) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Libourel, I.G.L. Articles by Ratcliffe, R.G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Libourel, I.G.L. Articles by Ratcliffe, R.G. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB CARBON CARBON BLACK Agricola Articles by Libourel, I.G.L. Articles by Ratcliffe, R.G.

ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AND ADAPTATION TO STRESS

Nitrite Reduces Cytoplasmic Acidosis under Anoxia¹

Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (I.G.L.L., M.D.F., R.G.R.); and Department of Systems Ecology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL–1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands (P.M.v.B.)

The ameliorating effect of nitrate on the acidification of the cytoplasm during short-term anoxia was investigated in maize (Zea mays) root segments. Seedlings were grown in the presence or absence of nitrate, and changes in the cytoplasmic and vacuolar pH in response to the imposition of anoxia were measured by in vivo ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Soluble ions and metabolites released to the suspending medium by the anoxic root segments were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and volatile metabolites were measured by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The beneficial effect of nitrate on cytoplasmic pH regulation under anoxia occurred despite limited metabolism of nitrate under anoxia, and modest effects on the ions and metabolites, including fermentation end products, released from the anoxic root segments. Interestingly, exposing roots grown and treated in the absence of nitrate to micromolar levels of nitrite during anoxia had a beneficial effect on the cytoplasmic pH that was comparable to the effect observed for roots grown and treated in the presence of nitrate. It is argued that nitrate itself is not directly responsible for improved pH regulation under anoxia, contrary to the usual assumption, and that nitrite rather than nitrate should be the focus for further work on the beneficial effect of nitrate on flooding tolerance.

² Present address: Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, Wilson Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824–1312.

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: R.G. Ratcliffe (george.ratcliffe{at}plants.ox.ac.uk).

www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.106.088898

^* Corresponding author; e-mail george.ratcliffe{at}plants.ox.ac.uk; fax 44–(0)1865–275074.

Received August 30, 2006; accepted October 19, 2006; published October 27, 2006.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Sawaki, S. Iuchi, Y. Kobayashi, Y. Kobayashi, T. Ikka, N. Sakurai, M. Fujita, K. Shinozaki, D. Shibata, M. Kobayashi, et al. STOP1 Regulates Multiple Genes That Protect Arabidopsis from Proton and Aluminum Toxicities Plant Physiology, May 1, 2009; 150(1): 281 - 294. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. U. Igamberdiev and R. D. Hill Plant mitochondrial function during anaerobiosis Ann. Bot., January 1, 2009; 103(2): 259 - 268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Magneschi and P. Perata Rice germination and seedling growth in the absence of oxygen Ann. Bot., January 1, 2009; 103(2): 181 - 196. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Couldwell, R. Dunford, N. J. Kruger, D. C. Lloyd, R. G. Ratcliffe, and A. M. O. Smith Response of cytoplasmic pH to anoxia in plant tissues with altered activities of fermentation enzymes: application of methyl phosphonate as an NMR pH probe Ann. Bot., January 1, 2009; 103(2): 249 - 258. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. Kingston-Smith, T. E. Davies, J. E. Edwards, and M. K. Theodorou From plants to animals; the role of plant cell death in ruminant herbivores J. Exp. Bot., February 4, 2008; (2008) erm326v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Wang, X. Xing, and N. Crawford Nitrite Acts as a Transcriptome Signal at Micromolar Concentrations in Arabidopsis Roots Plant Physiology, December 1, 2007; 145(4): 1735 - 1745. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]